CBD May Help Treat Methamphetamine Dependency, States New Study

Cannabidiol (CBD) can “reduce the motivation to seek and consume methamphetamine”, suggesting it may be effective as a treatment for those addicted to the drug, finds a new study published by the Journal of Psychopharmacology.

“Methamphetamine is an addictive stimulant that can cause many adverse physical, psychological and psychosocial effects”, begins the study’s abstract. “Preliminary evidence shows cannabidiol, a non-intoxicating constituent of the cannabis plant, may have efficacy in treating opioid and nicotine dependence. However, no study has yet examined whether cannabidiol treatment might impact on methamphetamine addiction.”

The current study “investigated whether cannabidiol administration reduces the motivation to self-administer methamphetamine and relapse to methamphetamine-seeking behavior following abstinence.”

“Cannabidiol (80 mg/kg, but not 40 mg/kg, or 20 mg/kg) reduced the motivation to self-administer methamphetamine and attenuated methamphetamine-primed relapse to methamphetamine-seeking behavior after extinction”, states the study.

According to researchers,. this is the first demonstration “that cannabidiol can reduce the motivation to seek and consume methamphetamine, and suggests that cannabidiol might be worth trialing as a novel pharmacotherapy for methamphetamine dependence.”

The full study, conducted by researchers at Macquarie University and the University of Syndey, can be found by clicking here.

Anthony Martinelli

Anthony is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheJointBlog. He has worked closely with numerous elected officials who support cannabis law reform, including as the former Campaign Manager for King County (WA) Councilmember Dave Upthegrove. He has been published by multiple media outlets, and is a former contributor for Village Voice Media.